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does the 2.2 petrol engine in my sri have valve stem seals? i get a bit of smoke as i drive off for the first time in the morning but it is only on the first pull away.

i'm thinking could it be VSS?

All valves have stem seals but if you remember, like I do, the old Ford CVH and Vauxhall 'Family II' OHC engines you will recall the blue smoke on start up and on gear changes and after a long over-run.

Modern engines seem to have overcome the problem of the rubber seal hardening and letting oil by and I haven't seen a car do it for years.

Are you sure it's not just condensation smoke? you'd need to get down and smell it for oil really.

Or blowing soot out the exhaust after it's been idling for a while?

I remember seeing XU 1.9 & 2.0 engines smoking a little and rattling a fair bit for a few seconds on starting, (this with brand new cars). Assumed that like some other engines the pistons / rings only form a proper seal & normal running clearances once they've warmed up a bit.